Meal kit



' .Feb. 16 1926.

' J. ALLSTON MEAL KIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Filed Nov. I 4, 1924 lar reference to a meal carrier of this class,

Patented Feb. 16, i926.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH B. ALLSTON, or Gnonos'rown, scorn csaonnu.

MEAL KIT.

Application filed November 4, 1924. Serial No. 747,821.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH B. ALLsroN,

a citizen of the United States,-residing at Georgetown, in the county of Georgetown and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meal Kits, of which the following is a' speci fication. j

This invention relates to an improved device, which maybe conveniently designated as a meal kit, the same having more particuwhich is especially designed for use by workmen, who are compelled to carry their meals from their homes to a place of em- I venience of removing the cover, 1t may be ployment.

' The invcntion has more specific reference to a meal kit of the character specified, wherein the same comprises a container, the Wall of which is insulated to maintain the a'rticlcs of food warm, whereby to permit a hot meal to be had.

The improvement consists in providing a novel sectional food article carrier or race tacle, which is. intended to be laced wit in the aforesaid insulated container, the sections of said receptacle being telescopically fitted into each other to permit one to serve as a cover for the one below it.

Another feature .ofthe inv'entionis the novel device employed for retaining the sections of the food article receptacle in a pre determinedrelation, this device embodying quick releasable means to permit separation of the sections for removing the articles of food therefrom. The specific details and arrangement of parts, together with the additional advantages derived therefrom will become apparent from the following de-' scription and drawing. I

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters serve to designate.

like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, and partly in elevation, showing a meal kit constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, with the cover removed.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the 1'c-- one of the sections or'pans of the food article receptacle. I I

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of a bottle and a drinking cup, forming a part of the kit.

In carrying out the invention, I employ a pail or container-1, provided with an inner spaced wall or lining 2, between which appropriate insulation material is arranged. I n the present instance, I employ a quantityof ground pork 3, and a sheet of asbestos 4. At its top, the pail is screw threaded. to .perunit a screw cover 5 to be threadedly connected therewith.' The container is thus rendered substantially fluid tight. For conequiplped with a handle 6, and toalso facililate andling of the improved device, I pro vide a pivotally mounted bail 7, having a -central hand grip 8. If desired, an appropriate keeper may be mounted upon one side 7 of the bail at thetop to cooperate with one 'other construction, it preferably comprises: 1 food article receptacle 10, more clear] shown in Figure 4. This receptacle is ma 0 up of a plurality of superposed telesco cally enga d segmental pans 11, each ing provic ed, adjacent its bottom, with. a surrounding head 12, resting on the top edge '00 of the cooperating pan.

Although it is not essential, "I prefer tb construct the various pans of such receptacle of various depths. It is obvious that with the arrangement shown, one receptacle con- I stitu-tes a cover for the other, permitting fluid foods to be carried in the lower pan;

Improved means is provided for main taining the pans inthe assembledrelation shown, and the means employed preferably 1 0 comprises a backing plate 13 having vertical edge flanges 14. cooperating with the an, in the manner shown. At the center 0 its top and bottom. this backing plate is pro vidcd with inwardly converging arms 15, which are provided with central plates 16. The inturned ends of a pair of U-shaped retainers 17 are pivoted, as at 18, to the plate 16. These Usshaped retainers are intended to be swung in diverging relation, no as shown. to cooperate with the rounded surfaces of the pan, for holding them position seen in Figure 3.

bs 19. rnxnnate relation seen in Figure After against (lisplin-enirnt. ll swinging the invnihrrs l7 ti); :('llltl. however. it is; obvious that tho pan may h- St'lillfil'ilili. to permit access to luhaul to the food :irtirlus conmined tl im'rin. On its opposite i'zwtu the hacking); plate 13 i provided with :1 pair of spared guide iii; 1 i101 ween whirli n lioitle 2t) is'rmilinrd. 'l hr l)()illt' ir used. as is uiHlUUS. to carry ltil. voila-in or the like Fitted over the ne i; ol' the hotlle. and h21ped to ronz'orm lo illlll rod upon the shoulders; i n renmrzihhdrinking t-np ill. This is of H size to nmnnr the ZI IJfH'UXlXHZIlFV it is likewise Conlinvd lininm-n lill retaining rihs lit. On opposite shim of thv retaining ribs are appropriately shaped lv'n'iivis 2;. for rercplion oi the desirrd nrlirlw oi rntlrry.

ln mun-tire. the :irlirlrs ol' i'ood we placed in the desirz-d om oi the pains 3.1, and the. latter wesemhled in lvli-smpir relntiom as seen in Figure l. The lint raiders of the pun are spaced against the inner surface of the backing plate 1.3. The retaining arms 17 are then swung, to the divergent relation :slnnvn, to maintain the ])2Hl:-. in assembled relation. This unit is thr-n inscllud into the pail 1, after which thn iillmi bottle 20 is Slltl downwardly lJUlWtt'll tho confining The )zirts then nsFnnn: the upthe rover 5 is svrewed oin an air tight (:onrpnz'tinent is provided, and as well known, the uitirlns of food are'nniint-ainrd snhstznr tiully in the same condition, as when placed in thr container.

it is thought that the foregoing clescrip-' tion. when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings will enable person shilh-d in the art to which the invention relates to ohtiiin a (lQill understanding of the 5111120. For this reziaon. a more length lPH fllPtlUll is thought nnneressanv.

While l have shown and described the. preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to he lll'ltlQl'filOUll that minor changes comin within the scope of the invention as claimed, may he resorted to, if desired.

1 vlaim:

in a structure 0% the class described, a holder for a plurality of'snperposed puns comprising :1 bucking plate provided with vertical nd flanges, and at the center 0 its top and bottom with inwardly cnnverg; in;; arms, at pair of iii-shaped retainers, connections between the iingulrz' end portions of the retainers and the free end portions of said arms, and a pair of spaced "vertical retaining ribs carried by said backing plate. 7

in testimon whereof I aliix my signature.

JOSEPH B. ALLSTON. 

